William Edward Kennealley

William "Bill" Kennealley, age 89, Raymond, SD formerly of Hemet, CA, died in the Prairie Lakes Hospital on Saturday, October 13, 2012 after a lingering illness. Friends may call at the Furness Funeral Home after 6PM on Tuesday, October 16, 2012 with a public Christian Wake Service beginning at 7PM in the funeral home chapel. The Reverend John Short will officiate. On Friday, October 19, 2012 at 1PM a public Christian Wake Service will be held at the Miller-Jones Funeral Home Chapel in Hemet, CA with interment with full military honors following in the San Jacinto Valley Cemetery at San Jacinto, CA. He was born William Edward Kennealley on April 6, 1923, on a farm north of Raymond, SD, the son of John Edward and Clara Rebecca (Smith) Kennealley. Bill attended the Ash Consolidated School north of Raymond and then graduated from Raymond High School. Following high school, he and a few friends in the area, loaded into a car and headed to California, looking for work. He found work at a vineyard near Upland, CA, crushing grapes. He later worked at Lockheed helping build the B-14 bomber. Bill served his country honorably during WWII in the Army Air Corps. After his discharge he returned to South Dakota and enrolled at SDSU in Brookings graduating with a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering. He was united in marriage to Kathleen Hampson on August 27, 1948. Following their marriage they moved to California where he began a career with the South California Gas Co. an employment that lasted until his retirement in 1985. He and his family lived in Monterey Park, CA until moving to Hemet, CA in 1991. Bill and Kathleen traveled extensively during their retirement years, both domestically and internationally. They enjoyed playing cards together; especially bridge and Bill spent countless hours on the golf course. He and Kathleen lived there until her death in 2005. Bill continued living in Hemet until moving to Raymond, SD in August of 2010 to be near his daughter, Mary, who has been his caregiver. Some of his fondest moments have been spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was a member of the Raymond American Legion Baker Post #209. Preceding him in death were his parents, his wife Kathleen, a brother, Vince, a brother-in-law, William Bockoven, a nephew Billy and a niece Rita. Grateful for having shared in his life is his daughter Mary (Don) Bowers of Raymond, 2 grandchildren, Matt (fiancé Erica Jangula) Smith and Michelle Smith, 3 great-grandchildren, Brody, Charles and Angelina, a sister, Mary Ann Bockoven of Fresno, CA and her children, David, Rebecca and Katherine, a sister-in-law, Eralia Kennealley of Sioux Falls, SD and her daughter, Dona (Robert E.) Carr. Also surviving are all of Kathleen's family and a host of friends. Funeral arrangements are with the Furness Funeral Home at Clark. www.furnessfuneralhome.com for an on-line registry.